Today is the first day of fall. As I mentioned in my last blog, fall is my favorite time of year! I love everything about it. I love watching the leaves change, the smells, the apples, and the cooler weather. I also love Halloween! What’s better then dressing up in a costume and coming home with a pillowcase full of free candy!?

Halloween 2010

We are truly blessed to be able to spend the entire season in a state as beautiful as New York, and I want to make sure we’re taking advantage of every moment.

Our family’s fall fun list:

Apple picking- We usually go to Green Acre Farms in Greece and use them to make apple sauce, caramel apple pie, and caramel apples.

Pumpkin picking- Last year we grew our own pumpkins but the kids still insisted on going to Brown’s Berry Patch like we do every year. This year our pumpkins didn’t grow so I have no excuse not to take the drive out to our favorite pumpkin patch.

Go to Starbucks- I really want to like their Pumpkin Spice Latte, but I’m just not a fan. This fall I’m going to try the Pumpkin Spice Creme. What’s the difference? I have no idea. But I’m determined to find an awesome fancy fall drink. Maybe I should try Dunkin Donuts.

Speaking of donuts, I think a trip to Donuts Delite to get some sort of cinnamon donut is a fall must!

Make s’mores- I love to cuddle up on a cool fall night in front of the fire pit and make yummy smores.

Corn maze- I’ve never taken the kids through a corn maze before but I think that now that the “baby” is almost 3, this would be a good year to try.

Haunted hayride- My husband and I went on one when we were dating but haven’t gone again since. This would be the perfect activity for a fall date. *Hint* *Hint*

Take a hike- I want to take the kids on a hike when the trees are at their best, collect cool leaves, and maybe take some pictures.

Buy some new clothes- I love having an excuse to buy new cardigans and boots. Oh, and the kids need a few new things too

Eat my husband’s tasty chili.

Go to a Halloween party.

I am determined to enjoy every second of this fall because before we know it, we’ll be shoveling driveways and walking through dirty snow in our new boots. What’s on your family’s fall fun list? Share them with us HERE

Contributors

For more than two decades, Kristine Bruneau has made a career from writing and marketing communications, working for ad agencies, nonprofits, and small businesses. Her commentaries, stories, and reviews have appeared in a variety of publications, including Rochester Magazine and Rochester Woman Magazine. She posts regularly to her Mommy Musings blog at kristinebruneau.com where she explores lessons learned from her son on motherhood, love, and life. Kris is currently working on a book inspired by these lessons and their resulting conundrums. She loves comments and feedback, so send her a note at kristinebruneau@me.com.

is an award-winning communications professional with 25 years experience working in journalism and public relations and with social media. She is also a comedian and has learned that weaving humor into all situations makes communication and life more enjoyable for all involved. She is an adjunct college professor and recently started her own company, Dresden Public Relations, to enable her to be a more-present mom for her two young daughters. One is adopted, one has cerebral palsy, both are beautiful and extraordinary, and life at her house is a fabulous adventure.

Claire Goverts is a working mom to a curious toddler girl on the go. A Buffalo to Rochester transplant, Claire enjoys exploring more of the area, which suits toddler fine. The zoo is a current favorite. She enjoys trying new things with daughter, including crafting ‘new’ play items. Such as coffee can turned drum, container, and mirror. She also shares a love of nature and the outdoors with her daughter.

And in her spare time Claire enjoys creative pursuits. Be in drawing, photography, jewelry making, and of course writing. She would like to publish novels one day, and has several National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) wins under her belt.

Tree Marino is a 30-something mother of tween/teen daughters. She works full time, while her husband stays home with the girls. This was not always the case. When the girls were younger she was a stay-at-home mom (who rarely stayed at home). Tree works toward making her family more green without ruffling to many feathers (inside the family and out). You might find her planning a casual event for her daughters' school or running her small business.

is a busy single mom of two busy boys from Brockport - Brice, 7, and Brady Patrick, 4. A graduate of the University of Rochester, she writes freelance articles and The Brockport Blog for The Democrat and Chronicle. She is also a contributing writer to Rochester Woman Magazine and a former reporter for Messenger Post Newspapers. Caurie enjoys being a hockey mom, photography, swimming, and life guarding at the YMCA. Look to her Mom Blog for pieces on parenting a child with special needs and parenting as a single mom. You can reach her at www.caurie.com or caurie@urgrad.rochester.edu

Debra Ross is publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, an online resource for parents who want to know about the cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities for kids in their local area.

She is a weekly guest on two morning radio shows in Rochester, WARM 101.3 and Fickle 93.3 and also appears often on local television. She and her husband, David Ross, a professor at RIT, home school their daughters Madison, 13, and Ella, 11. They live in Brighton.